The Wise Councel of Yesterday's Souls

Well I went back in time and who did I see? My old friend Bob Ross who was painting for me His clouds were so happy and so were his trees on that magical canvas he mastered with ease 'It's so good to see you Bob, where have you been? Please come back and make the world smile again' Slyly he grinned 'From this life I was torn but there were still smiles before I was born' He added 'You know that same gift is in you. So you have to go back, for my time is through' We hugged one another with no more to say and slowly he backed up and faded away I pressed on to visit another old friend in his beautiful neighborhood just 'round the bend 'Hello Mr. Rogers, I've missed you so much! You left us too quickly and then we lost touch' 'Would you please come back with me? We need you so bad to sing and tell stories and make us feel glad' Fred smiled and answered 'I've missed you all so. But my time was over and I had to go' 'But you're very special and you must move on' He turned and he waved and then he was gone My last stop was back to my childhood home where my mother and father both entered this poem I wrapped my arms 'round them, we hugged and we kissed I let them know just how much they have been missed I begged them to come back with me and I said 'There's no need for either of you to be dead' I fell to my knees, I screamed and I cried Then they spoke these words which I carry inside 'We each have our own little time in the sun and when the sun sets then our time here is done' 'Nothing can change this, you have to go on and the old generation must pass the baton. For we did our part and we hope for your best. As you travel onward we go to our rest' 'You do have a light that is shining in you and we put it there to help see you through. But to shine your light backward cannot help the dead. You must face it forward and move on ahead' 'Take the best that we gave you and pass it along and YOU teach the world a happy new song' And with that last sentence they vanished from view Now they give their treasures through my heart to you We must never pin all our joys on the dead the graveyard has no place inside of one's head So heed the wise counsel of yesterday's souls making smiles and laughter your primary goals 2/25/19